WBB Notes - 3.29
Wild Run For Villanova
Villanova becomes just the second BIG EAST team to advance to the semifinals of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) since the field expanded to 64 teams in 2010, following the Wildcats’ win at Indiana on Sunday afternoon. Villanova travels to Michigan on Wednesday, which ended St. John’s season on Thursday night, with a trip to the WNIT title game on the line. The storied programs have met just once before, in the 2013 NCAA Tournament First Round in Palo Alto, Calif., with eighth-seeded Michigan winning 60-52 over ninth-seeded Villanova. Since the WNIT’s inaugural event in 1998, BIG EAST teams have advanced to the semifinals seven times, showing a 4-3 record, including a 2-0 mark by current conference member Marquette. This is Villanova’s first trip to the WNIT Semifinals. Tipoff in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Wednesday is slated for 7 p.m., streaming on BTN Plus.
Schulte’s An All-American
DePaul’s Brooke Schulte, the 2017 BIG EAST Player of the Year, added another trophy to her crowded case on Monday afternoon as the senior guard was tabbed an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press. The AP All-America certificate is the fifth by a BIG EAST player since conference realignment, including fourth by a DePaul player in that span. Schulte, the BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year, finished BIG EAST play as the league’s leading scorer at 20.8 points per game, while capping her overall season ranked second at 16.2 per contest. The senior was remarkable after an injury sidelined teammate and BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Jessica January for nearly all of conference play, with Schulte stepping up with career numbers across the board. With Schulte leading the charge, DePaul won at least a share of the BIG EAST regular-season title for a fourth consecutive year and earned an NCAA Tournament bid for a 15
th straight season. Schulte, along with January and Marquette’s Allazia Blockton, were named WBCA All-Region nominees last week, putting them on the ballot for WBCA All-America honors as well. The WBCA All-America Teams are announced on April 1.
BIG EAST At The Final Four
Coaches and administrators from across the BIG EAST will be active at the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four this week, with many participating in mentorship programs, speaking on panels and receiving awards. A number of league coaches and conference officials will participate in Thursday’s coaching mentorship program, including BIG EAST Coordinator of Officials Debbie Williamson, Marquette head coach Carolyn Kieger and St. John’s head coach Joe Tartamella. DePaul head coach Doug Bruno is involved in a number of committees, including the All-American Committee, Wade Trophy Committee and Officiating Working Group, all of which meet in Dallas. DePaul Athletics Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto will be recognized on Friday as WBCA Administrator of the Year, a distinguished honor which was announced earlier this month. St. John’s redshirt-senior forward Sandra Udobi will also be honored this week after being named to the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team back in February. Friday’s Learning Lab: “Diversity & Inclusion Best Practices Panel” will feature Georgetown Director of Athletics Lee Reed, with BIG EAST Associate Commissioner for Women’s Basketball Tracy Ellis-Ward serving as moderator of the group. Additionally, Georgetown head coach Natasha Adair will be on Friday’s “Moms in Coaching” panel, and Seton Hall head coach Anthony Bozzella will participate on both “So You Want To Be A Coach” session on Thursday which helps introduce the coaching profession to young female basketball players, as well as Saturday’s “How To Get A Job” Roundtable aimed at assistant coaches. For the complete WBCA Convention Schedule, click
HERE.